SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
10-Q, 1998-08-07
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


Mark One:
[X]           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       For the quarter ended June 30, 1998

                                       OR

[ ]           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                         Commission File Number 0-27324


                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                                 22-2859704
(State or other jurisdiction            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)

          215 College Road
            Paramus, NJ                               07652
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

                                 (201) 261-1331
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant:  (1) has filed  all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                    Yes X No


As of July 29, 1998,  there were 10,698,819  shares of the  registrant's  Common
Stock outstanding.


<PAGE>



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION

   INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1998


                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                                                         Page
                                                                         ----
Item 1. Financial Statements                                               1

Balance Sheets at June 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997                      1

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for
  the three months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, and for the
  six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997                                  2

Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended
 June 30, 1998 and 1997                                                    3

Notes to Financial Statements                                              4

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
  Condition and Results of Operations                                      5


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds                          8

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders                9

Item 5. Other Information                                                 10

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                  11

Signatures                                                                12



























                                      (i)


<PAGE>



                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1. Financial Statements


                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                    (in thousands, except share information)


                                     ASSETS

                                                        June 30,  December 31,
                                                          1998          1997
                                                      ----------  -----------
                                                      (Unaudited)   (Audited)
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents                               $13,448      $23,113
 Restricted cash                                             600          600
 Marketable securities--current maturities                 7,747       10,010
 Revenue receivable under collaborative agreement            160           40
 Other current assets                                      1,158          674
                                                         -------      -------
  Total current assets                                    23,113       34,437

Property and equipment, net                                4,962        4,682

Marketable securities                                     40,309       28,977

Patent and patent application costs,
  net of accumulated amortization                          1,132        1,306
                                                         -------      -------
                                                         $69,516      $69,402
                                                         =======      =======



                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY



Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable                                        $   606      $   811
 Accrued liabilities                                         560          547
 Accrued compensation                                        240          340
 Unearned revenue under research agreement                   313           --
                                                         -------      -------
  Total current liabilities                                1,719        1,698

Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; authorized--
  1,000,000 shares; issued--none                              --           --
 Common Stock, $.01 par value; authorized--
  25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding--
  10,698,207 shares in 1998 and 10,526,585 shares
  in 1997;                                                   107          105
 Additional paid-in capital                               98,401       97,049
 Deferred compensation                                       (99)        (160)
 Accumulated deficit                                     (30,662)     (29,316)
 Accumulated other comprehensive income--
  net unrealized gains on securities                          50           26
                                                         -------      -------
  Total stockholders' equity                              67,797       67,704
                                                         -------      -------
                                                         $69,516      $69,402
                                                         =======      =======










                       See notes to financial statements.


                                        1


<PAGE>



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
             (in thousands, except share and per share information)
                                   (Unaudited)




                             For the three months       For the six months
                                ended June 30,            ended June 30,
                               1998         1997         1998         1997
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
Revenues:
 Contract revenue            $ 2,148      $ 2,755      $ 4,313      $ 5,310
 License revenue                  --           --        2,000           --
 Grant revenue                    60          102          150          242
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
  Total revenues               2,208        2,857        6,463        5,552

Expenses:
 Research and development      3,851        3,343        7,512        6,691
 General and administrative    1,085          957        2,168        1,922
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
  Total expenses               4,936        4,300        9,680        8,613
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
Loss from operations          (2,728)      (1,443)      (3,217)      (3,061)

Other income, net:
 Interest income                 953          485        1,871          970
 Interest expense                 --           (1)          --           (4)
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
  Other income, net              953          484        1,871          966
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
Net loss                     $(1,775)     $  (959)     $(1,346)     $(2,095)
                             =======      =======      =======      =======


Comprehensive loss:

Net loss                     $(1,775)     $  (959)     $(1,346)     $(2,095)

Other comprehensive
 income (loss)--unrealized
  holding gains (losses)
  arising during period          121         (163)          24            6
                             -------      -------      -------      -------
Comprehensive loss           $(1,654)     $(1,122)     $(1,322)     $(2,089)
                             =======      =======      =======      =======




Basic and diluted net loss
 per share                    $(0.17)      $(0.13)      $(0.13)      $(0.27)
                              ======       ======       ======       ======
Shares used in
 computation of basic
 and diluted net loss
 per share                10,691,744    7,646,085   10,668,641    7,640,454
                          ==========    =========   ==========    =========


















                       See notes to financial statements.

                                        2


<PAGE>



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)
                                                        For the six months
                                                          ended June 30,
                                                        1998          1997
                                                       -------      -------
Operating activities:

Net loss                                               $(1,346)     $(2,095)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
 cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization                              702          584
Amortization of premiums/(discounts) on securities          74          (72)
Amortization of deferred compensation                       41           65
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in other current assets                          (484)        (130)
Decrease in accounts payable, accrued liabilities
  and accrued compensation                                (291)        (317)
Increase in collaborative agreement
  revenue receivable                                      (120)          --
Increase in deferred revenue                               313           --
                                                       -------      -------
Net cash used in operating activities                   (1,111)      (1,965)


Investing activities:

Sale or maturity of investments                         30,000       10,350
Purchase of investments                                (39,120)      (3,943)
Purchases of property and equipment                       (808)      (1,661)
                                                       -------      -------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities     (9,928)       4,746


Financing activities:

Issuance of common stock, net of repurchases             1,374           23
Payments on capital lease                                   --          (61)
                                                       -------      -------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities      1,374          (38)
                                                       -------      -------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents    (9,665)       2,743


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period        23,113        4,589
                                                       -------      -------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $13,448      $ 7,332
                                                       =======      =======


























                       See notes to financial statements.

                                        3


<PAGE>



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  June 30, 1998


Note 1 -- Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying  unaudited financial  statements have been prepared in
accordance  with  the  instructions  to  Form  10-Q  and  may  not  include  all
information  and  footnotes  required  for a  presentation  in  accordance  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles.  In the opinion of the management of
Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation (the "Company"),  these financial statements
include all normal and recurring  adjustments  necessary for a fair presentation
of the financial  position and the results of  operations  and cash flows of the
Company  for  the  interim  periods  presented.   For  more  complete  financial
information,  these financial  statements should be read in conjunction with the
audited  financial  statements  for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, and
notes  thereto  included in the Company's  1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The
results of  operations  for the fiscal  quarter  ended  June 30,  1998,  are not
necessarily  indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full
year.


Note 2 -- New Accounting Standard

         In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 130, "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income."
This pronouncement,  which was required to be adopted effective January 1, 1998,
requires the presentation of a statement of comprehensive income.  Comprehensive
income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during
a period  resulting from  transactions and other events and  circumstances  from
nonowner sources.  Comprehensive loss for the Company,  in addition to net loss,
includes  unrealized  gains and losses on marketable  securities  held for sale,
currently recorded in stockholders' equity.















































                                        4


<PAGE>



Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
           Results of Operations

Overview

         Synaptic Pharmaceutical  Corporation is a biotechnology company engaged
in the  development  of a broad platform of enabling  technology  which it calls
"human   receptor-targeted   drug  design  technology."  It  is  utilizing  this
technology  both to  discover  and clone the genes that code for human  receptor
subtypes  associated  with specific  disorders and to design  compounds that can
potentially be developed as drugs for treating these  disorders.  The Company is
currently  engaged in collaborations  with four  pharmaceutical  companies:  Eli
Lilly and Company  ("Lilly"),  Merck & Co., Inc.  ("Merck"),  The Warner-Lambert
Company  ("Warner-Lambert")  and Grunenthal GmbH  ("Grunenthal").  In connection
with these  collaborations,  the Company has granted to these companies licenses
under  certain  patent  rights and to certain  technology.  The Company had been
engaged in a collaboration  with Novartis Pharma AG ("Novartis") and had granted
to Novartis a license under certain patent rights and to certain technology.  On
August 3, 1998, the  collaboration and related research funding support provided
by Novartis ended in accordance with the terms of the Company's  agreements with
Novartis.  Novartis  continues to have a license under certain patent rights and
to certain  technology  of the  Company.  The Company has also granted a license
under  certain  patent  rights,  as well as an option  to  obtain an  additional
license under certain patent  rights,  to Glaxo Group Limited  ("Glaxo").  Since
inception, the Company has financed its operations primarily through the sale of
stock, through funds provided by its collaborative  partners Lilly and Merck and
former  collaborative  partner Novartis under their agreements with the Company,
through funds  provided by its licensee,  Glaxo,  under a license  agreement and
through  interest income and capital gains resulting from its  investments.  The
Company also receives  revenues from government  grants under the Small Business
Innovative Research ("SBIR") program of the National Institutes of Health.

         Under its collaborative and license agreements, the Company may receive
one or more  of the  following  types  of  revenue:  contract  revenue,  license
revenue,  royalty revenue or revenue from the sales of drugs.  Contract  revenue
includes  research  funding  to  support a  specified  number  of the  Company's
scientists  and  payments  upon  the  achievement  of  specified   research  and
development milestones.  Research funding revenue is recognized ratably over the
period of the  agreement  to which it relates  and is based  upon  predetermined
funding  requirements.  Research and  development  milestone  payment revenue is
recognized  when the related  research or  development  milestone  is  achieved.
License revenue represents  non-refundable payments for a license to one or more
of  the  Company's  patents  and/or  a  license  to  the  Company's  technology.
Non-refundable  payments for licenses  are  recognized  at such time as they are
received or, if earlier,  become  guaranteed.  Under its agreements  with Lilly,
Merck,  Warner-Lambert,  Glaxo and Novartis,  the Company is entitled to receive
royalty  payments based upon the sales of drugs that may be developed  using the
Company's  technology.  Under its  agreement  with  Grunenthal,  the Company has
development and marketing  rights in certain  territories with respect to drugs,
if any, that are jointly identified as part of the  collaboration.  Accordingly,
the Company may receive  revenue from sales in its  territories  (as defined) of
such drugs if it markets them  independently  or the Company may receive royalty
payments if it licenses  its  marketing  rights to a third party.  To date,  the
Company has not  received  either  royalty  revenue or revenue from the sales of
drugs and the Company does not expect to receive  such  revenues for a number of
years, if at all.

         To  date,  the  Company's  expenditures  have  been  for  research  and
development related expenses, general and administrative related expenses, fixed
asset purchases and various patent related  expenditures  incurred in protecting
the Company's technologies.  The Company has been historically  unprofitable and
had an accumulated  deficit of $30,662,000 at June 30, 1998. The Company expects
to continue to incur  operating  losses for a number of years and may not become
profitable,  if at all, unless and until it receives  royalty revenue or revenue
from sales of drugs that may be developed  with the use of its technology or its
patent rights.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 1998 and 1997

         Revenues.  The Company  recognized revenue of $2,208,000 and $2,857,000
for the three months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The decrease of
$649,000 was  attributable  primarily  to a net decrease in contract  revenue of
$607,000  which  is  primarily  due to the  reduction  in  full-time  equivalent
scientists being funded under one of the Company's collaborative arrangements.

         Research  and  Development  Expenses.  The Company   incurred  research
and development  expenses  of $3,851,000,  and $3,343,000  for the  three months
ended June 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The  increase of $508,000, or 15%,
in research and
                                        5


<PAGE>



development  expenses was attributable  primarily to: an increase of $246,000 in
compensation and fringe benefit expenses  resulting from a net average headcount
increase of 6 research  personnel  as well as annual  salary  increases  for the
scientific staff; and an increase of $131,000 in facility related costs.

         General and Administrative  Expenses.  The Company incurred general and
administrative  expenses of  $1,085,000  and $957,000 for the three months ended
June 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The  increase of  $128,000,  or 13%, was
attributable  primarily  to: an  increase  of $48,000 in  compensation  expenses
resulting  from a net average  headcount  increase as well as annual  salary and
bonus increases for the administrative  staff; an increase of $161,000 in patent
costs,  which includes one-time charges  associated with resisting a third party
opposition to the issuance to the Company of a foreign patent, all of which were
offset by a decrease of $89,000 in legal costs. The additional  $89,000 in legal
costs  reported for the second  quarter of 1997 was  primarily  attributable  to
negotiations relating to a new collaboration.

         Other Income,  Net. The Company  recorded  other income of $953,000 and
$484,000 for the three months  ended June 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The
increase of $469,000 was primarily due to higher  interest income as a result of
higher cash,  cash  equivalent and marketable  securities  balances  during 1998
which  resulted from the receipt of net proceeds  from a public  offering of its
common stock completed in November 1997.

         Net Loss and  Basic  and  Diluted  Net  Loss  Per  Share.  The net loss
incurred by the Company was $1,775,000  ($0.17 per share),  and $959,000  ($0.13
per share) for the three months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively.  The
increase in net loss per share of $0.04 resulted  primarily from the decrease in
revenues and increase in expenses as described above.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 1998 and 1997

         Revenues.  The Company  recognized revenue of $6,463,000 and $5,552,000
for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The increase of
$911,000  was  attributable  primarily  to an  increase  in  license  revenue of
$2,000,000.  This  increase in license  revenue was offset by a net  decrease in
contract  revenue  of  $997,000  which  is  primarily  due to the  reduction  in
full-time  equivalents  scientists  being  funded  under  one of  the  Company's
collaborative arrangements.

         Research and Development  Expenses.  The Company incurred  research and
development expenses of $7,512,000, and $6,691,000 for the six months ended June
30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The increase of $821,000, or 12%, in research
and development expenses was attributable  primarily to: an increase of $474,000
in  compensation  and  fringe  benefit  expenses  resulting  from a net  average
headcount  increase of 9 research  personnel as well as annual salary  increases
for the scientific staff; and an increase of $150,000 in facility related costs.

         General and Administrative  Expenses.  The Company incurred general and
administrative  expenses of $2,168,000  and  $1,922,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The  increase of  $246,000,  or 13%, was
attributable  primarily  to: an increase of  $105,000  in  compensation  expense
resulting  from a net average  headcount  increase as well as annual  salary and
bonus increases for the administrative  staff; an increase of $176,000 in patent
costs,  which includes one-time charges  associated with resisting a third party
opposition to the issuance to the Company of a foreign patent, all of which were
offset by a decrease of $86,000 in legal costs. The additional  $86,000 in legal
costs  reported  for the  first  half  of 1997  was  primarily  attributable  to
negotiations relating to a new collaboration.

         Other Income,  Net. The Company recorded other income of $1,871,000 and
$966,000  for the six months  ended June 30,  1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The
increase of $905,000 was primarily due to higher  interest income as a result of
higher cash,  cash  equivalent and marketable  securities  balances  during 1998
which  resulted from the receipt of net proceeds  from a public  offering of its
common stock completed in November 1997.

         Net Loss and  Basic  and  Diluted  Net  Loss  Per  Share.  The net loss
incurred by the Company was $1,346,000 ($0.13 per share),  and $2,095,000 ($0.27
per share) for the three months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively.  The
decrease in net loss per share of $0.14  resulted  primarily from higher license
revenue and higher interest income offset by higher expenses as described above.

         The Company does not believe that  inflation has had a material  impact
on its results of operations.






                                        6


<PAGE>



Liquidity and Capital Resources

         At June 30, 1998 and December  31, 1997,  cash,  cash  equivalents  and
marketable securities aggregated $61,504,000 and $62,100,000,  respectively. The
$61,504,000  of  cash,  cash  equivalents  and  marketable  securities  includes
$313,000 of research  funding  received in advance from Novartis for research to
be performed during the third quarter. In addition to the cash, cash equivalents
and  marketable   securities  described  above,  the  Company  had  $600,000  in
restricted  cash recorded in its balance sheet at June 30, 1998. This restricted
cash secures lease payments to the Company's landlord for one full year.

         To date, the Company has met its cash requirements  through the sale of
its stock, through contract and license revenue, through SBIR grants and through
interest income and gains resulting from its  investments.  As of June 30, 1998,
the Company had received: $97,700,000 from the sale of its stock; $57,000,000 in
licensing fees,  research funding and milestone payments under its collaborative
and license  agreements;  $3,500,000  in SBIR grants;  and  $8,100,000  in other
income,  net. To date,  the portion of these funds that has been expended by the
Company has been used principally to fund research and development,  to purchase
fixed assets used  primarily in its  research  activities,  to create its patent
estate and to pay general and administrative support costs.

         During the period  from  January 1, 1998  through  June 30,  1998,  the
Company received research funding under three of its collaborative arrangements.
During the period  from July 1, 1998  through  December  31,  1998,  the Company
expects to receive $2,700,000 in the aggregate under two of its  collaborations.
Research  funding  under  the  Lilly  collaboration  is  scheduled  to expire on
December 31, 1998.  Research funding under the Merck  collaboration is scheduled
to expire  on  November  30,  1998 but  Merck  has the  right to  terminate  the
collaboration  and such funding earlier by giving 90 days' prior written notice.
Research  funding  under the Novartis  collaboration  ended on August 3, 1998 in
accordance with the terms of the underlying agreements.

         At June 30, 1998,  the Company had invested an aggregate of  $9,255,000
in property and equipment.  The Company leases  laboratory and office facilities
under an agreement  expiring on December 31, 2015.  The minimum  annual  payment
under the lease is currently $674,000.

         At June 30, 1998 the Company had $61,504,000 in cash, cash  equivalents
and marketable securities.  The Company intends to utilize these funds primarily
to  conduct  its  current  and future  research  programs,  for  patent  related
expenditures,  for general corporate purposes and to make leasehold improvements
to its  facilities  beyond the level which existed on June 30, 1998. The Company
expects to  continue  to incur  operating  losses for a number of years and will
require the use of cash to finance its capital  programs.  The Company  believes
that its cash on hand,  together  with the funds that it expects to receive from
its  collaborative  partners and interest  income will be sufficient to fund: an
increased  operating expense level; the Company's portion of its shared costs of
certain development  activities under its collaboration with Grunenthal;  and an
increased level of capital spending through the year 2000.

         This Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward looking  statements"  within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements  include,  but are not limited
to, those relating to future cash and spending plans, amounts of future research
funding,  and any other statements  regarding future growth,  future cash needs,
future  operations,   business  plans  and  financial  results,  and  any  other
statements which are not historical facts. When used in this document, the words
"expect,"  "may,"  "believes," and similar  expressions are intended to be among
the words that identify  forward looking  statements.  Such  statements  involve
risks  and  uncertainties,  including,  but not  limited  to,  those  risks  and
uncertainties  detailed under the captions "Patents,  Proprietary Technology and
Trade  Secrets,"  "Competition"  and  "Government  Regulation"  in the Company's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1997 (the
"1997 Form 10-K") as well as those risks and  uncertainties  disclosed under the
captions  "Early  Stage  of  Product  Development;  Technological  Uncertainty,"
"Dependence on Collaborative Partners and Licensees for Development,  Regulatory
Approvals,  Manufacturing,  Marketing and Other  Resources"  and  "Uncertainties
Related to Clinical Trials" as "Cautionary  Statements" in the 1997 Form 10-K or
detailed from time to time in filings the Company makes with the SEC. Should one
or more of these  risks  or  uncertainties  materialize,  or  should  underlying
assumptions  prove  incorrect,  actual  outcomes may vary from those  indicated.
Although the Company  believes  that the  expectations  reflected in the forward
looking  statements  contained  herein are reasonable,  it can give no assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company expressly disclaims
any obligation or  undertaking  to  disseminate  any updates or revisions to any
forward  looking  statement  contained  herein  to  reflect  any  change  in the
Company's  expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,  conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


                                        7


<PAGE>



                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds


         Securities Act Rule 229.463 ("Rule 463") required  issuers to report on
Form SR their use of proceeds,  following an initial public offering, within ten
days of the first three months  following the effective date of the registration
statement,  and every six months  thereafter,  until the application of all such
proceeds was  complete.  Effective  September  2, 1997,  pursuant to Release No.
34-38850,  the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  amended Rule 463 to
eliminate  Form SR and now  requires  a  first-time  registrant  to  report  the
application  of proceeds in each of its periodic  reports filed  pursuant to the
requirements  under the Exchange Act until the  application  of such proceeds is
complete. Prior to September 2, 1997, the Company utilized Form SR to report the
application  of proceeds  received by the Company  following its initial  public
offering.

         The information  provided below represents a reasonable estimate of the
cumulative  application,   through  June  30,  1998,  of  the  net  proceeds  of
$25,194,000 which were received  following the Company's initial public offering
on December 13, 1995:


Construction of plant, building and facilities                       $   425,000

Purchase and installation of machinery and equipment                 $ 3,918,000

Working capital used to fund operations                              $18,235,000


         Except for payments described in the following sentence, the cumulative
application of the net offering proceeds listed above represents direct payments
to others. No payments were made to directors or officers or to their associates
except for payments made in the ordinary  course of business which include,  but
may not be limited to, the payment of officer  salaries,  fringe  benefits,  and
expense reimbursements or compensation paid to directors for their attendance at
board  meetings or for their services  provided to the Company under  consulting
arrangements, if any.

         At June 30, 1998, the status of proceeds pending final  application are
as follows:


Temporary investment of proceeds in marketable securities            $ 2,616,000



































                                        8


<PAGE>



Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


         On May 12, 1998,  the Company held its annual  meeting of  stockholders
for the following  purposes:  (i) to elect three Class II directors to the Board
of Directors  (Proposal No. 1); (ii) to amend the Company's  1996 Incentive Plan
in order to increase  the number of shares of Common Stock  available  for award
under such Plan and to bring the Plan into compliance with Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended  (Proposal No. 2); and (iii) to ratify
the  appointment  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Ernst  &  Young  LLP as the
independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998
(Proposal No.
3).

         The  stockholders  elected  the  persons  named  below,  the  Company's
nominees for director,  as Class II directors of the Company,  casting votes for
such nominees or withholding votes as indicated:


                                    VOTES FOR                VOTES WITHHELD

Jonathan J. Fleming                 7,906,914                    338,092
Eric R. Kandel                      7,906,914                    338,092
John E. Lyons                       7,906,914                    338,092


         The stockholders approved Proposal No. 2 as follows:


VOTES FOR         VOTES AGAINST         VOTES ABSTAINED       BROKER NON-VOTES

3,771,233           2,117,995                   6,120          2,349,658



         The stockholders approved Proposal No. 3 as follows:


VOTES FOR         VOTES AGAINST         VOTES ABSTAINED       BROKER NON-VOTES

8,241,906               2,300                     800                  0








































                                        9


<PAGE>



Item 5.  Other Information


         The Company, in collaboration with Lilly, is currently  conducting drug
discovery  programs  focused  on a number of  serotonin  receptor  subtypes  and
therapeutic applications.  With respect to the drug discovery program focused on
the   identification  and  development  of  serotonin  2B  antagonists  for  the
prophylactic  treatment  of  migraine,  Lilly  selected a compound  for possible
development  and conducted late  preclinical  testing of the compound.  However,
Lilly recently  determined that, as a result of competing  priorities,  it would
not  continue to develop  this  compound  and would  instead  seek a licensee or
development partner for the compound.  Lilly's determination with respect to the
migraine  prophylaxis  program does not affect the acute migraine  program which
Lilly is  conducting  in  collaboration  with the  Company.  The acute  migraine
program is focused on the  development of a serotonin  1F-selective  agonist for
the treatment of acute migraine. Lilly is currently conducting Phase II clinical
trials with a compound that is the subject of this program.

         On  August  3,  1998,  the  term of the  Company's  collaboration  with
Novartis, which was focused principally on the identification and development of
neuropeptide Y drugs for the treatment of obesity and eating disorders,  as well
as  cardiovascular  disorders,  expired  in  accordance  with  the  terms of the
Research and License  Agreement dated as of August 4, 1994, as amended,  and the
Research and License  Agreement dated as of May 31, 1996. In connection with the
expiration  of the  collaboration,  Novartis'  obligation to provide the Company
with  funding  to  support  a  specified  number  of  the  Company's  scientists
terminated. Novartis continues to have a license under certain patent rights and
to certain  technology of the Company  pursuant to the terms of the Research and
License Agreements.

         The  Company,  in  collaboration  with  Warner-Lambert,   is  currently
conducting  drug  discovery  programs  focused on a number of  galanin  receptor
subtypes and therapeutic applications. As part of the collaboration, the Company
and  Warner-Lambert  have identified small molecule compounds that are selective
for certain of the galanin receptor subtypes.

         For a general  description of Phase II clinical  trials,  the early and
late  preclinical  stages of  testing  and other  stages of drug  discovery  and
development, see the Company's 1997 Form 10-K.










































                                       10


<PAGE>



Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


(a) Exhibits

Exhibit
  No.       Description
- -------     -----------

10.1        Incentive Stock Option Agreement dated as of May 12, 1998, between
            the Company and Theresa A. Branchek (filed herewith)

10.2        Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of May 12, 1998,
            between the Company and Theresa A. Branchek (filed herewith)

27          Financial Data Schedule


(b)         Reports on Form 8-K

The  Company  did not file any  Current  Reports  on Form 8-K  during the fiscal
quarter ended June 30, 1998.


























































                                       11


<PAGE>


                                 SIGNATURE PAGE


Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                              SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                                        (Registrant)



Date: August 7, 1998          By:/s/ Kathleen P. Mullinix
                                 -----------------------------
                              Name: Kathleen P. Mullinix
                              Title: Chairman, President &
                                     Chief Executive Officer



                              By:/s/ Robert L. Spence
                                 -----------------------------
                              Name: Robert L. Spence
                              Title: Senior Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer &
                                     Treasurer






















































                                       12


                                                                EXHIBIT 10.1
                                                                ------------
                                 NONTRANSFERABLE
                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated as of the 12th day of May, 1998, is by
and between SYNAPTIC  PHARMACEUTICAL  CORPORATION,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Company"),  and Theresa A. Branchek (the "Optionee,"  which term as used herein
shall be deemed to include any  successor to the Optionee by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, unless the context shall otherwise require).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company  and the  Optionee  are  parties  to an
Employment  Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998 (as the same may be amended from
time to time, the "Employment Agreement");

                  WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Synaptic Pharmaceutical  Corporation
1996 Incentive Plan (the "Plan"),  the Company,  acting through the Compensation
Committee (the "Committee") of its Board of Directors (the "Board"),  on May 12,
1998 (the "Start  Date"),  granted to the Optionee  options to purchase up to an
aggregate of 25,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the
"Common  Stock"),  at the  price of  $14.4375  per  share,  one of such  options
covering 10,827 shares of Common Stock to be for the term and upon the terms and
conditions  hereinafter  stated and the other of such  options  covering  14,173
shares of Common Stock to be for the term and upon the terms and  conditions set
forth in the  Nontransferable  Nonqualified  Stock Option Agreement of even date
herewith;

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company's  intention is to have the two options
granted on the Start Date generally  become  exercisable  with respect to 25% of
the total  number of shares of Common  Stock  covered by both such  options each
year during a four-year period; and

                  WHEREAS, due to certain tax limitations, the option agreements
covering such options do not individually provide for four-year ratable vesting,
although  such  agreements  do, when  considered  together,  so provide for such
vesting.

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual premises and
undertakings hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1.  Option;  Option  Price.  Pursuant  to said  action  of the
Committee,  the Company has granted to the Optionee the option (the "Option") to
purchase, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
terms and  conditions  of the Plan (which are hereby  incorporated  by reference
herein),  10,827 shares (the "Option  Shares") of Common Stock of the Company at
the price of $14.4375 per share (the "Option  Price"),  which Option is intended
to qualify for Federal income tax purposes as an "incentive stock option" within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").


                                       -1-

<PAGE>



                  2. Term.  The term (the  "Option  Term") of the  Option  shall
commence  on the Start  Date and  expire on the tenth  anniversary  of the Start
Date,  unless the Option shall  theretofore  have been  terminated in accordance
with the terms hereof or of the Plan.

                  3.       Exercisability; Time of Exercise.

                  (a)  General.  Unless  accelerated  in the  discretion  of the
Committee or as otherwise  provided herein,  the Option shall become exercisable
as to 1,280 of the Option Shares on April 1, 1999, as to an additional  1,399 of
the Option  Shares on April 1,  2000,  as to an  additional  2,256 of the Option
Shares on April 1, 2001,  and as to an additional  5,892 of the Option Shares on
April 1, 2002; provided,  however, that if the Optionee dies or retires with the
consent of the Company any time prior to April 1, 2002, then the Option shall be
exercisable  as to that number of Option Shares which is equal to the sum of (i)
the total  number of Option  Shares,  if any,  as to which the Option had become
exercisable through the 1st day of April immediately preceding the date of death
or retirement (the "Preceding April 1st") and (ii) that number which is equal to
the product of (A) the number of additional Option Shares as to which the Option
would have become  exercisable  during the 12-month period commencing on the day
following the Preceding  April 1st and ending on the first April 1st immediately
following  such date of death or  retirement  had such death or  retirement  not
occurred and (B) 1/12 times the number of full calendar  months which shall have
elapsed  during the period  commencing on the Preceding  April 1st and ending on
the date of the Optionee's death or retirement;  provided further, however, that
if, at any time  prior to April 1,  2002,  the  Optionee's  employment  with the
Company is  terminated in  contemplation  of, or at any time within one (1) year
following,  a Change in Control  (capitalized  terms used and not defined herein
having the  meanings  ascribed  to them in the  Employment  Agreement)  and such
termination  constitutes a Termination  Without Cause or a Resignation  for Good
Reason,  then  the  Option  shall,  as of the date of such  termination,  become
exercisable  in full as to all of the Option  Shares.  The Option  shall  remain
exercisable  as to all of such shares until the  expiration  of the Option Term,
unless it is  terminated  earlier as provided in any of the other  paragraphs of
this Section 3 or Section 6 or as provided in the Plan.

                  (b)  Termination  for Cause. If the Optionee shall cease to be
an  employee  of the  Company as a result of a  termination  by the  Company for
Cause, the Option shall automatically  terminate on, and the Optionee shall have
no further right to exercise the Option on or after, the date as of which notice
of such termination is given to the Optionee by the Company.

                  (c) Termination  without Cause.  If the Optionee's  employment
with the Company  terminates  for any reason other than Cause or the  Optionee's
death or  Disability or  Retirement  (as defined in the Plan),  the Option shall
thereafter be  exercisable  only to the extent of the purchase  rights,  if any,
which shall have accrued  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 as of the
date of such  termination,  and the Option and such  accrued  rights to purchase
shall in any event  terminate upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right
to exercise the Option  after,  the earlier of (i) the  expiration of the Option
Term and (ii) (A) in the case of any such termination  governed by Section 11 of
the Employment Agreement, 120 days after the date of such termination and (B) in
the case


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



of any such  termination not governed by said Section 11, 90 days after the date
of  such  termination;  provided,  however,  that,  in  the  case  of  any  such
termination  other  than  a  termination   resulting  from  the  Optionee  being
"disabled"  within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Option shall
no longer be treated  as an  "incentive  stock  option"  within  the  meaning of
Section 422 of the Code unless  exercised  within three (3) months following the
date of such termination.

                  (d)  Termination as a Result of Disability or  Retirement.  If
the  Optionee's  employment  with the  Company  terminates  as a  result  of the
Optionee's Disability or Retirement,  the Option shall thereafter be exercisable
only to the extent of the  purchase  rights,  if any,  which shall have  accrued
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 3 as of the date of such  termination,
and the Option and such accrued rights to purchase shall in any event  terminate
upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right to exercise the Option after,
the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Option Term and (ii) 180 days after the
date of such  termination;  provided,  however,  that,  in the  case of any such
termination  other  than  a  termination   resulting  from  the  Optionee  being
"disabled"  within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Option shall
no longer be treated  as an  "incentive  stock  option"  within  the  meaning of
Section 422 of the Code unless  exercised  within three (3) months following the
date of such termination.

                  (e)  Termination  as a  Result  of  Death.  If the  Optionee's
employment with the Company  terminates as a result of the Optionee's death, the
Option shall thereafter be exercisable by the Optionee's Designated  Beneficiary
(as defined in the Plan) or  personal  representatives,  heirs or  legatees  (as
provided in the Plan),  but only to the extent of the purchase  rights,  if any,
which shall have accrued  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 as of the
date of such  termination,  and the Option and such  accrued  rights to purchase
shall in any event  terminate upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right
to exercise the Option  after,  the earlier of (i) the  expiration of the Option
Term and (ii) one (1) year  after  the date of death.  Notwithstanding  anything
contained in the Plan to the contrary,  the Option shall  continue to be treated
as an  "incentive  stock  option"  within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code
even if it is not  exercised  until after the third month  following the date of
the Optionee's death.

                  (f) Death Following Disability or Retirement.  In the event of
the Optionee's  death within 180 days  following the  Optionee's  termination of
employment as a result of the Optionee's  Disability or  Retirement,  the Option
shall  thereafter be  exercisable by the  Optionee's  Designated  Beneficiary or
personal  representatives,  heirs or  legatees,  to the  extent of the  purchase
rights,  if any,  which shall have  accrued  pursuant to  paragraph  (a) of this
Section  3 as of the  date of such  termination,  for a  period  of one (1) year
following  the date of death but in no event  later than the  expiration  of the
Option  Term;  provided,  however,  that,  in the case in which  the  Optionee's
termination of employment resulted from the Optionee being "disabled" within the
meaning of Section  22(e)(3) of the Code,  the Option shall no longer be treated
as an  "incentive  stock  option"  within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code
unless exercised within one (1) year following the date of such termination; and
provided further,  however, that, in all other cases, the Option shall no longer
be treated as an "incentive  stock option"  within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code unless  exercised  within three (3) months  following  the date of such
termination.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                  4.  Procedure for  Exercise.  (a) The Option may be exercised,
from time to time,  in whole or in part (but for the  purchase  of whole  shares
only),  by delivery of a written  notice (the "Notice") from the Optionee to the
Secretary of the Company, which Notice shall:

                           (i) state that the  Optionee  elects to  exercise the
                  Option under this Agreement;

                           (ii) state the number of shares with respect to which
                  the Optionee is exercising the Option (the "Acquired Shares");

                           (iii)  include any  representations  of the  Optionee
                  required under Section 7(b) hereof;

                           (iv)  state the method of  payment  for the  Acquired
                  Shares pursuant to Section 4(b);

                           (v) in the event that the Option  shall be  exercised
                  by any person other than the  Optionee  pursuant to Sections 3
                  and 8, include  appropriate  proof of the right of such person
                  to exercise the Option; and

                           (vi) state the date upon which the  Optionee  desires
                  to consummate the purchase of the Acquired  Shares (which date
                  must be prior to the termination of such Option).

                  (b) Payment of the Option Price for the Acquired Shares shall,
unless  otherwise  provided by the Committee,  be made in cash or by personal or
certified check.

                  5. No Rights as a Stockholder. The Optionee shall not have any
privileges of a stockholder  with respect to any Option Shares until the date of
a stock certificate representing such Option Shares is issued to the Optionee.

                  6.       Adjustments.

                  (a) Stock  Dividends,  Splits,  Subdivisions or  Combinations.
Subject  to the other  provisions  of this  Section 6, if, at any time while the
Option is  outstanding,  the  Common  Stock is  changed  by reason of  dividends
payable in Common Stock or splits,  subdivisions  or  combinations  of shares of
Common  Stock,  then the number of shares of Common Stock  deliverable  upon the
exercise   thereafter   of  the  Option   shall  be   increased   or   decreased
proportionately,  as the case may be,  without  change in the  aggregate  Option
Price.

                  (b)  Cash  Mergers.   Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  merger  on
consolidation of the Company with another  corporation in a transaction in which
the stockholders of the Company receive cash consideration in exchange for their
shares of capital stock of the Company (a "cash


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



merger"), the Option shall automatically terminate;  provided, however, that the
Optionee  shall be given (i) written notice of such cash merger at least 20 days
prior to its proposed  effective  date (as specified in such notice) and (ii) an
opportunity,  during the period  commencing  with  delivery  of such  notice and
ending ten (10) days prior to such  proposed  effective  date,  to exercise  the
Option in full as to all of the Option Shares, whether or not then vested.

                  (c)  Assumption or  Substitution  of Options.  Notwithstanding
anything contained herein or in the Plan to the contrary, Section 6(b) shall not
be applicable if provision shall be made in connection with such cash merger for
the  assumption  of the Option by, or the  substitution  for the Option of a new
option   covering  the  stock  of,  the   surviving,   successor  or  purchasing
corporation,  or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as
to the number, kind and option price of shares subject to such option; provided,
however,  that the Board  shall,  to the extent not  inconsistent  with the best
interests  of the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries  (such  best  interests  to be
determined  in good faith by the Board,  in its sole  discretion),  use its best
efforts to ensure that any such assumption or substitution will not constitute a
modification,  extension or renewal of the Option  within the meaning of Section
424(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

                  (d) Corporate Transactions. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein or in the Plan to the  contrary,  upon the  occurrence of (i) a merger or
consolidation  of the Company with another  corporation in a transaction  (other
than a cash  merger)  in which the  Company  shall not  survive  or in which the
Company  is  the  survivor  but  its  capital  stock  is  exchanged  for  stock,
securities, or property of another entity or (ii) a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company  (any  transaction  described  in clause (i) or
(ii) being referred to herein as a "corporate transaction"),  provision shall be
made in connection  with such  corporate  transaction  for the assumption of the
Option by, or the substitution for the Option of a new option covering the stock
of,  the  surviving,  successor  or  purchasing  corporation,  or  a  parent  or
subsidiary  thereof,  with  appropriate  adjustments as to the number,  kind and
option price of shares subject to such option; provided, however, that the Board
shall, to the extent not inconsistent  with the best interests of the Company or
its  subsidiaries  (such best  interests to be  determined  in good faith by the
Board,  in its sole  discretion),  use its best  efforts to ensure that any such
assumption or  substitution  will not  constitute a  modification,  extension or
renewal of the Option  within the meaning of Section  424(h) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder.

                  (e)  Termination  within One Year of Cash Merger or  Corporate
Transaction.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein or in the Plan to the
contrary,  in the event the Optionee's employment with the Company or the person
which is the surviving,  successor or purchasing corporation in a cash merger to
which  Section 6(c)  applies or a corporate  transaction  to which  Section 6(d)
applies,  or a parent or subsidiary  thereof,  is  terminated  without Cause and
other than as a result of the Optionee's death or disability,  at any time prior
to the first anniversary of such transaction or merger,  the Option shall become
exercisable  in full as to all Option Shares,  whether or not vested,  as of the
date on which notice of termination  is given to the Optionee,  and the Optionee
shall  have the right to  exercise  the  Option as to any or all of such  shares
until the earlier


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



of (i) the  expiration  of the Option Term and (ii) the 90th day  following  the
date of such termination, at which time the Option shall terminate.

                  7. Additional  Provisions Related to Exercise.  (a) The Option
shall be  exercisable  only on such date or dates and during such period and for
such number of shares of Common Stock as are set forth in this Agreement.

                  (b) To exercise  the Option,  the  Optionee  shall  follow the
procedures  set forth in Section 4 hereof.  Upon the exercise of the Option at a
time when there is not in effect a registration  statement  under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as amended,  relating to the shares of Common Stock  issuable upon
exercise of the  Option,  the  Optionee  shall  provide  the  Company  with such
representations and warranties as may be required by the Committee to the effect
that the Acquired  Shares are being  acquired for investment and not with a view
to  the  distribution  thereof.   Anything  contained  herein  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  in the  event  the  Board  shall  determine,  in its  sole and
subjective  discretion,  that the registration,  qualification or listing of the
Option  Shares upon a securities  exchange or under any state or Federal law, or
the consent or approval or any  government or  regulatory  body, is necessary or
desirable  as a condition of or in  connection  with the exercise of the Option,
the  Option  may not be  exercised,  in whole or in part,  unless and until such
registration,  qualification,  listing,  consent  or  approval  shall  have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board.

                  (c) The Option  shall not be  affected by any change of duties
or position of the Optionee  (including  transfer to or from a  subsidiary),  so
long as the  Optionee  continues  to be an employee of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries.  Nothing in the Option  granted  hereunder  shall  confer upon the
Optionee  any  right to  continue  in the  employ of the  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries  or  interfere  in any way with the  right  of the  Company  or its
subsidiaries  or the  stockholders  of the  Company,  as the  case  may  be,  to
terminate the  Optionee's  employment or to increase or decrease the  Optionee's
compensation at any time.

                  8. Restriction on Transfer. The Option may not be transferred,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated (whether by operation of law or otherwise), sold
or otherwise  disposed of in any way by the  Optionee,  except by will or by the
laws of descent and  distribution,  and may be exercised  during the lifetime of
the  Optionee  only by the  Optionee.  If the  Optionee  dies,  the Option shall
thereafter be exercisable,  during the applicable period specified in Section 3,
by the Optionee's Designated Beneficiary or personal  representatives,  heirs or
legatees  (as  provided  in the Plan) to the full extent to which the Option was
exercisable  by the  Optionee  at the time of the  Optionee's  death as provided
herein.  The Option  shall not be subject to  execution,  attachment  or similar
process.  Any attempted transfer,  pledge,  assignment,  hypothecation,  sale or
other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions  hereof, and the levy
of any execution,  attachment or similar process upon the Option,  shall be null
and void and without effect.

                  9.   Restrictive   Legends.   In  order  to  reflect   certain
restrictions  on disposition of the shares  acquired upon exercise of the Option
(the "Restricted Shares"), all stock certificates


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



representing the Restricted Shares issued shall have affixed thereto any legends
determined by the Company to be appropriate.

                  10.  Notices.  All notices or other  communications  which are
required  or  permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and  sufficient  if (i)
personally delivered or sent by telecopier,  (ii) sent by  nationally-recognized
overnight  courier  or (iii)  sent by  registered  or  certified  mail,  postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

                           if to the Optionee, to:

                                    Theresa A. Branchek
                                    518 Standish Road
                                    Teaneck, New Jersey  07666

                           if to the Corporation, to:

                       Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation
                                    215 College Road
                                    Paramus, New Jersey  07652
                                    Attention:  President
                                    Telecopier: 201-261-0623

or to such  other  address  as the party to whom  notice is to be given may have
furnished  to each  other  party in  writing in  accordance  herewith.  Any such
communication  shall  be  deemed  to have  been  given  (i) when  delivered,  if
personally  delivered,  sent by  telecopier  or  sent  by  nationally-recognized
overnight  courier and (ii) on the third Business Day (as  hereinafter  defined)
following the date on which the piece of mail containing such  communication  is
posted, if sent by mail. As used herein,  "Business Day" means a day that is not
a Saturday,  Sunday or a day on which banking  institutions in the city to which
the notice or communication is to be sent are not required to be open.

                  11. No Waiver.  No waiver of any breach or  condition  of this
Agreement  shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or  subsequent  breach or
condition, whether of like or different nature.

                  12. Optionee  Undertaking.  The Optionee hereby agrees to take
whatever  additional  actions  and execute  whatever  additional  documents  the
Company may in its reasonable  judgement deem necessary or advisable in order to
carry out or effect one or more of the  obligations or  restrictions  imposed on
the Optionee pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement.

                  13.  Modification  of Rights.  The rights of the  Optionee are
subject to  modification  and  termination in certain events as provided in this
Agreement and the Plan.



                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                  14.  Governing Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey without giving
effect to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  15.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may  be executed in one or
more counterparts, each  of which shall be  deemed to be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  16.  Entire   Agreement.   This   Agreement,   the  Employment
Agreement(the   provisions  relating  to  stock  options  of  which  are  hereby
incorporated  herein by reference) and the Plan constitute the entire  agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject  matter hereof and thereof,  and
supersede   all   previously   written   or  oral   negotiations,   commitments,
representations  and  agreements  with  respect  thereto.  In the  event  of any
inconsistency  among the terms of this  Agreement,  the terms of the  Employment
Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Employment Agreement shall
control.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first written above.



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION



                       By:/s/ Kathleen P. Mullinix
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          Kathleen P. Mullinix
                          Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

                          /s/ Theresa A. Branchek
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          Theresa A. Branchek







                                       -9-

                                                                EXHIBIT 10.2
                                                                ------------

                                 NONTRANSFERABLE
                       NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated as of the 12th day of May, 1998, is by
and between SYNAPTIC  PHARMACEUTICAL  CORPORATION,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Company"),  and Theresa A. Branchek (the "Optionee,"  which term as used herein
shall be deemed to include any  successor to the Optionee by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, unless the context shall otherwise require).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company  and the  Optionee  are  parties  to an
Employment  Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998 (as the same may be amended from
time to time, the "Employment Agreement");

                  WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Synaptic Pharmaceutical  Corporation
1996 Incentive Plan (the "Plan"),  the Company,  acting through the Compensation
Committee (the "Committee") of its Board of Directors (the "Board"),  on May 12,
1998 (the "Start  Date"),  granted to the Optionee  options to purchase up to an
aggregate of 25,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the
"Common  Stock"),  at the  price of  $14.4375  per  share,  one of such  options
covering 14,173 shares of Common Stock to be for the term and upon the terms and
conditions  hereinafter  stated and the other of such  options  covering  10,827
shares of Common Stock to be for the term and upon the terms and  conditions set
forth in the  Nontransferable  Incentive  Stock  Option  Agreement  of even date
herewith;

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company's  intention is to have the two options
granted on the Start Date generally  become  exercisable  with respect to 25% of
the total  number of shares of Common  Stock  covered by both such  options each
year during a four-year period; and

                  WHEREAS, due to certain tax limitations, the option agreements
covering such options do not individually provide for four-year ratable vesting,
although  such  agreements  do, when  considered  together,  so provide for such
vesting.

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual premises and
undertakings hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1.  Option;  Option  Price.  Pursuant  to said  action  of the
Committee,  the Company has granted to the Optionee the option (the "Option") to
purchase, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
terms and  conditions  of the Plan (which are hereby  incorporated  by reference
herein),  14,173 shares (the "Option  Shares") of Common Stock of the Company at
the price of  $14.4375  per share  (the  "Option  Price"),  which  Option is not
intended to qualify  for Federal  income tax  purposes  as an  "incentive  stock
option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code").


                                       -1-

<PAGE>



                  2. Term.  The term (the  "Option  Term") of the  Option  shall
commence  on the Start  Date and  expire on the tenth  anniversary  of the Start
Date,  unless the Option shall  theretofore  have been  terminated in accordance
with the terms hereof or of the Plan.

                  3.       Exercisability; Time of Exercise.

                  (a)  General.  Unless  accelerated  in the  discretion  of the
Committee or as otherwise  provided herein,  the Option shall become exercisable
as to 4,970 of the Option Shares on April 1, 1999, as to an additional  4,851 of
the Option  Shares on April 1,  2000,  as to an  additional  3,994 of the Option
Shares on April 1, 2001,  and as to an  additional  358 of the Option  Shares on
April 1, 2002; provided,  however, that if the Optionee dies or retires with the
consent of the Company any time prior to April 1, 2002, then the Option shall be
exercisable  as to that number of Option Shares which is equal to the sum of (i)
the total  number of Option  Shares,  if any,  as to which the Option had become
exercisable through the 1st day of April immediately preceding the date of death
or retirement (the "Preceding April 1st") and (ii) that number which is equal to
the product of (A) the number of additional Option Shares as to which the Option
would have become  exercisable  during the 12-month period commencing on the day
following the Preceding  April 1st and ending on the first April 1st immediately
following  such date of death or  retirement  had such death or  retirement  not
occurred and (B) 1/12 times the number of full calendar  months which shall have
elapsed  during the period  commencing on the Preceding  April 1st and ending on
the date of the Optionee's death or retirement;  provided further, however, that
if, at any time  prior to April 1,  2002,  the  Optionee's  employment  with the
Company is  terminated in  contemplation  of, or at any time within one (1) year
following,  a Change in Control  (capitalized  terms used and not defined herein
having the  meanings  ascribed  to them in the  Employment  Agreement)  and such
termination  constitutes a Termination  Without Cause or a Resignation  for Good
Reason,  then  the  Option  shall,  as of the date of such  termination,  become
exercisable  in full as to all of the Option  Shares.  The Option  shall  remain
exercisable  as to all of such shares until the  expiration  of the Option Term,
unless it is  terminated  earlier as provided in any of the other  paragraphs of
this Section 3 or Section 6 or as provided in the Plan.

                  (b)  Termination  for Cause. If the Optionee shall cease to be
an  employee  of the  Company as a result of a  termination  by the  Company for
Cause, the Option shall automatically  terminate on, and the Optionee shall have
no further right to exercise the Option on or after, the date as of which notice
of such termination is given to the Optionee by the Company.

                  (c) Termination  without Cause.  If the Optionee's  employment
with the Company  terminates  for any reason other than Cause or the  Optionee's
death or  Disability or  Retirement  (as defined in the Plan),  the Option shall
thereafter be  exercisable  only to the extent of the purchase  rights,  if any,
which shall have accrued  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 as of the
date of such  termination,  and the Option and such  accrued  rights to purchase
shall in any event  terminate upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right
to exercise the Option  after,  the earlier of (i) the  expiration of the Option
Term and (ii) (A) in the case of any such termination governed by Section


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



11 of the Employment Agreement,  120 days after the date of such termination and
(B) in the case of any such termination not governed by said Section 11, 90 days
after the date of such termination.

                  (d)  Termination as a Result of Disability or  Retirement.  If
the  Optionee's  employment  with the  Company  terminates  as a  result  of the
Optionee's Disability or Retirement,  the Option shall thereafter be exercisable
only to the extent of the  purchase  rights,  if any,  which shall have  accrued
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 3 as of the date of such  termination,
and the Option and such accrued rights to purchase shall in any event  terminate
upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right to exercise the Option after,
the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Option Term and (ii) 180 days after the
date of such termination.

                  (e)  Termination  as a  Result  of  Death.  If the  Optionee's
employment with the Company  terminates as a result of the Optionee's death, the
Option shall thereafter be exercisable by the Optionee's Designated  Beneficiary
(as defined in the Plan) or  personal  representatives,  heirs or  legatees  (as
provided in the Plan),  but only to the extent of the purchase  rights,  if any,
which shall have accrued  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 as of the
date of such  termination,  and the Option and such  accrued  rights to purchase
shall in any event  terminate upon, and the Optionee shall have no further right
to exercise the Option  after,  the earlier of (i) the  expiration of the Option
Term and (ii) one (1) year after the date of death.

                  (f) Death Following Disability or Retirement.  In the event of
the Optionee's  death within 180 days  following the  Optionee's  termination of
employment as a result of the Optionee's  Disability or  Retirement,  the Option
shall  thereafter be  exercisable by the  Optionee's  Designated  Beneficiary or
personal  representatives,  heirs or  legatees,  to the  extent of the  purchase
rights,  if any,  which shall have  accrued  pursuant to  paragraph  (a) of this
Section  3 as of the  date of such  termination,  for a  period  of one (1) year
following  the date of death but in no event  later than the  expiration  of the
Option Term.

                  4.  Procedure for  Exercise.  (a) The Option may be exercised,
from time to time,  in whole or in part (but for the  purchase  of whole  shares
only),  by delivery of a written  notice (the "Notice") from the Optionee to the
Secretary of the Company, which Notice shall:

                           (i)  state that the  Optionee elects  to exercise the
                  Option under this Agreement;

                           (ii) state the number of shares with respect to which
                  the Optionee is exercising the Option (the "Acquired Shares");

                           (iii)  include any  representations  of the  Optionee
                  required under Section 7(b) hereof;

                           (iv)  state the method of  payment  for the  Acquired
                  Shares pursuant to Section 4(b);


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                           (v) in the event that the Option  shall be  exercised
                  by any person other than the  Optionee  pursuant to Sections 3
                  and 8, include  appropriate  proof of the right of such person
                  to exercise the Option; and

                           (vi) state the date upon which the  Optionee  desires
                  to consummate the purchase of the Acquired  Shares (which date
                  must be prior to the termination of such Option).

                  (b) Payment of the Option Price for the Acquired Shares shall,
unless  otherwise  provided by the Committee,  be made in cash or by personal or
certified check.

                  5. No Rights as a Stockholder. The Optionee shall not have any
privileges of a stockholder  with respect to any Option Shares until the date of
a stock certificate representing such Option Shares is issued to the Optionee.

                  6.       Adjustments.

                  (a) Stock  Dividends,  Splits,  Subdivisions or  Combinations.
Subject  to the other  provisions  of this  Section 6, if, at any time while the
Option is  outstanding,  the  Common  Stock is  changed  by reason of  dividends
payable in Common Stock or splits,  subdivisions  or  combinations  of shares of
Common  Stock,  then the number of shares of Common Stock  deliverable  upon the
exercise   thereafter   of  the  Option   shall  be   increased   or   decreased
proportionately,  as the case may be,  without  change in the  aggregate  Option
Price.

                  (b)  Cash  Mergers.   Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  merger  on
consolidation of the Company with another  corporation in a transaction in which
the stockholders of the Company receive cash consideration in exchange for their
shares of capital  stock of the  Company  (a "cash  merger"),  the Option  shall
automatically terminate; provided, however, that the Optionee shall be given (i)
written  notice  of such  cash  merger  at least 20 days  prior to its  proposed
effective date (as specified in such notice) and (ii) an opportunity, during the
period commencing with delivery of such notice and ending ten (10) days prior to
such  proposed  effective  date, to exercise the Option in full as to all of the
Option Shares, whether or not then vested.

                  (c)  Assumption or  Substitution  of Options.  Notwithstanding
anything contained herein or in the Plan to the contrary, Section 6(b) shall not
be applicable if provision shall be made in connection with such cash merger for
the  assumption  of the Option by, or the  substitution  for the Option of a new
option   covering  the  stock  of,  the   surviving,   successor  or  purchasing
corporation,  or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as
to the number, kind and option price of shares subject to such option.

                  (d) Corporate Transactions. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein or in the Plan to the  contrary,  upon the  occurrence of (i) a merger or
consolidation  of the Company with another  corporation in a transaction  (other
than a cash merger) in which the Company shall not


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



survive  or in which  the  Company  is the  survivor  but its  capital  stock is
exchanged for stock, securities, or property of another entity or (ii) a sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (any transaction described
in clause (i) or (ii) being  referred to herein as a  "corporate  transaction"),
provision  shall be made in connection  with such corporate  transaction for the
assumption of the Option by, or the  substitution for the Option of a new option
covering the stock of, the surviving,  successor or purchasing corporation, or a
parent or subsidiary  thereof,  with  appropriate  adjustments as to the number,
kind and option price of shares subject to such option.

                  (e)  Termination  within One Year of Cash Merger or  Corporate
Transaction.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein or in the Plan to the
contrary,  in the event the Optionee's employment with the Company or the person
which is the surviving,  successor or purchasing corporation in a cash merger to
which  Section 6(c)  applies or a corporate  transaction  to which  Section 6(d)
applies,  or a parent or subsidiary  thereof,  is  terminated  without Cause and
other than as a result of the Optionee's death or disability,  at any time prior
to the first anniversary of such transaction or merger,  the Option shall become
exercisable  in full as to all Option Shares,  whether or not vested,  as of the
date on which notice of termination  is given to the Optionee,  and the Optionee
shall  have the right to  exercise  the  Option as to any or all of such  shares
until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Option Term and (ii) the 90th day
following  the  date of  such  termination,  at  which  time  the  Option  shall
terminate.

                  7. Additional  Provisions Related to Exercise.  (a) The Option
shall be  exercisable  only on such date or dates and during such period and for
such number of shares of Common Stock as are set forth in this Agreement.

                  (b) To exercise  the Option,  the  Optionee  shall  follow the
procedures  set forth in Section 4 hereof.  Upon the exercise of the Option at a
time when there is not in effect a registration  statement  under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as amended,  relating to the shares of Common Stock  issuable upon
exercise of the  Option,  the  Optionee  shall  provide  the  Company  with such
representations and warranties as may be required by the Committee to the effect
that the Acquired  Shares are being  acquired for investment and not with a view
to  the  distribution  thereof.   Anything  contained  herein  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  in the  event  the  Board  shall  determine,  in its  sole and
subjective  discretion,  that the registration,  qualification or listing of the
Option  Shares upon a securities  exchange or under any state or Federal law, or
the consent or approval or any  government or  regulatory  body, is necessary or
desirable  as a condition of or in  connection  with the exercise of the Option,
the  Option  may not be  exercised,  in whole or in part,  unless and until such
registration,  qualification,  listing,  consent  or  approval  shall  have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board.

                  (c) The Option  shall not be  affected by any change of duties
or position of the Optionee  (including  transfer to or from a  subsidiary),  so
long as the  Optionee  continues  to be an employee of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries.  Nothing in the Option  granted  hereunder  shall  confer upon the
Optionee  any  right to  continue  in the  employ of the  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries  or  interfere  in any way with the  right  of the  Company  or its
subsidiaries or the


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



stockholders  of the Company,  as the case may be, to terminate  the  Optionee's
employment or to increase or decrease the Optionee's compensation at any time.

                  8. Restriction on Transfer. The Option may not be transferred,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated (whether by operation of law or otherwise), sold
or otherwise  disposed of in any way by the  Optionee,  except by will or by the
laws of descent and  distribution,  and may be exercised  during the lifetime of
the  Optionee  only by the  Optionee.  If the  Optionee  dies,  the Option shall
thereafter be exercisable,  during the applicable period specified in Section 3,
by the Optionee's Designated Beneficiary or personal  representatives,  heirs or
legatees  (as  provided  in the Plan) to the full extent to which the Option was
exercisable  by the  Optionee  at the time of the  Optionee's  death as provided
herein.  The Option  shall not be subject to  execution,  attachment  or similar
process.  Any attempted transfer,  pledge,  assignment,  hypothecation,  sale or
other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions  hereof, and the levy
of any execution,  attachment or similar process upon the Option,  shall be null
and void and without effect.

                  9.   Restrictive   Legends.   In  order  to  reflect   certain
restrictions  on disposition of the shares  acquired upon exercise of the Option
(the "Restricted  Shares"),  all stock certificates  representing the Restricted
Shares issued shall have affixed  thereto any legends  determined by the Company
to be appropriate.

                  10.  Notices.  All notices or other  communications  which are
required  or  permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and  sufficient  if (i)
personally delivered or sent by telecopier,  (ii) sent by  nationally-recognized
overnight  courier  or (iii)  sent by  registered  or  certified  mail,  postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

                           if to the Optionee, to:

                                    Theresa A. Branchek
                                    518 Standish Road
                                    Teaneck, New Jersey  07666

                           if to the Corporation, to:

                       Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation
                                    215 College Road
                                    Paramus, New Jersey  07652
                                    Attention:  President
                                    Telecopier: 201-261-0623

or to such  other  address  as the party to whom  notice is to be given may have
furnished  to each  other  party in  writing in  accordance  herewith.  Any such
communication  shall  be  deemed  to have  been  given  (i) when  delivered,  if
personally  delivered,  sent by  telecopier  or  sent  by  nationally-recognized
overnight  courier and (ii) on the third Business Day (as  hereinafter  defined)
following the date on


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



which the piece of mail  containing  such  communication  is posted,  if sent by
mail. As used herein, "Business Day" means a day that is not a Saturday,  Sunday
or a day on  which  banking  institutions  in the city to which  the  notice  or
communication is to be sent are not required to be open.

                  11. No Waiver.  No waiver of any breach or  condition  of this
Agreement  shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or  subsequent  breach or
condition, whether of like or different nature.

                  12. Optionee  Undertaking.  The Optionee hereby agrees to take
whatever  additional  actions  and execute  whatever  additional  documents  the
Company may in its reasonable  judgement deem necessary or advisable in order to
carry out or effect one or more of the  obligations or  restrictions  imposed on
the Optionee pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement.

                  13.  Modification  of Rights.  The rights of the  Optionee are
subject to  modification  and  termination in certain events as provided in this
Agreement and the Plan.

                  14.  Governing Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey without giving
effect to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  15.      Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each  of which shall be  deemed to be an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  16.  Entire   Agreement.   This   Agreement,   the  Employment
Agreement(the   provisions  relating  to  stock  options  of  which  are  hereby
incorporated  herein by reference) and the Plan constitute the entire  agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject  matter hereof and thereof,  and
supersede   all   previously   written   or  oral   negotiations,   commitments,
representations  and  agreements  with  respect  thereto.  In the  event  of any
inconsistency  among the terms of this  Agreement,  the terms of the  Employment
Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Employment Agreement shall
control.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first written above.



                       SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION



                       By:/s/Kathleen P. Mullinix
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          Kathleen P. Mullinix
                          Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


                          /s/Theresa A. Branchek
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          Theresa A. Branchek






                                       -8-

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                      13,448,000
<SECURITIES>                                48,056,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                  160,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            23,113,000
<PP&E>                                       9,255,000
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,293,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              69,516,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,719,000
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       107,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  67,690,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                69,516,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,463,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                9,680,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (1,346,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (1,346,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (1,346,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.13)
        

</TABLE>


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